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Woman wanted in fake check scheme

A Magee woman with an extensive arrest record is wanted for forgery in connection with the passing of a fake scholarship check at a local business last month.
Starkville Police Department detectives have an active warrant for the arrest of Jennifer Reed, 38 — also known as Jennifer Jones and Jennifer M. Reed — in connection with the cashing of a fake check for more than $3,800 at the offices of Moreland Inc. on Highway 12.
Reed told staff members there that the check was for a scholarship and was asked for her driver’s license before the check was cashed, said SPD Detective Scotty Carrithers on Wednesday.
“The check came back as having been altered,” Carrithers said. “It was fake.”
A check on her driver’s license revealed her address to be Magee, but further checks by police revealed that Reed had one conviction in 1998 on embezzlement charge in Columbus, as well as an extensive arrest record on numerous charges as embezzlement, grand larceny, uttering a forgery, cocaine possession and methamphetamine possession dating back to 2001.
Her prior arrests all occurred in Columbus or Lowndes County, Carrithers said.
Since the incident at Moreland Inc., no other reports of fake check passings have been reported to police, Carrithers said.
Reed has been tracked to a home in western Oktibbeha County, Carrithers said. She is described as white woman who is 5 feet, 6 inches tall, weighing 160 pounds with dark blond hair and blue eyes and is known to have tattoo on her left ankle, Carrithers said.
“Anyone who sees her is encouraged to call the Police Department immediately,” Carrithers said.
The Police Department can be reached at 323-4131 or by dialing 911.
Information can also be given to the Golden Triangle Crime Stoppers tip line by calling 1-800-530-7151. All Crime Stoppers tips are confidential and could result in a reward of up to $1,000 for the caller if the tip leads to an arrest in this case.
In the meantime, Carrithers urged local banks, check cashing businesses and other financial transaction businesses to closely examine all large amount checks and to ask for identification from all customers to help avoid fraud.